Sealed package containing a squeezable product

Abstract

There is provided a pack for a product ( 12 ) to facilitate the dispensing of a liquid or particulate matter emanating from the product via a first openable portion ( 17 ). The pack comprises two films ( 13, 14 ) sealed together about a periphery to define a volume in which the product ( 12 ) is contained. The films at the openable portion ( 17 ) can be peeled apart in order to create an opening, but the size of the opening is limited by the provision of stronger connections ( 52 ) on either side of the openable portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pack comprising a sealed package containing a squeezable product, the package having a first openable portion and being at least partially flexible to enable squeezing of the product to facilitate dispensing of a liquid or particulate material emanating from the product via the first openable portion once opened, wherein the package comprises one or more films which are fluid-tight and which fully enclose a volume in which the product is sealingly retained, wherein said one or more films comprises a flexible first film and a second film, which films are sealingly joined to each other about a periphery thereby forming a peripheral seal fully enclosing said volume in which the product is sealingly retained, wherein the first openable portion comprises at least one of the films having a grippable tab which can be manipulated to peel apart the joint between the films, wherein the first openable portion comprises a first seal portion comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first seal portion is relatively weak compared to a first second seal portion on the first side of the first seal portion and a second second seal portion on the second side of the first seal portion, whereby the second seal portions resist separation thereby to limit the first openable portion to a first predetermined size, wherein the package has a second openable portion at a position spaced from the first openable portion, the second openable portion comprising at least one of the films having a further grippable tab which can be manipulated to peel apart the joint between the films, wherein the second openable portion comprises a third seal portion comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the third seal portion is relatively weak compared to a first fourth seal portion on the first side of the third seal portion and a second fourth seal portion on the second side of the third seal portion, whereby the fourth seal portions resist separation thereby to limit the second openable portion to a second predetermined size, wherein the second predetermined size is greater than said first predetermined size such that the first predetermined size beyond which the films are resisted from separation prevents passage of the squeezable product through the first openable portion and wherein the second predetermined size by which the films are permitted to separate permits the passage of the squeezable product through the second openable portion, and wherein the first second seal portion is contiguous with the first fourth seal portion, the second second seal portion is contiguous with the second fourth seal portion, and the second and fourth seal portions are spaced from said peripheral seal. 
     
     
       2. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first openable portion is opposite the second openable portion. 
     
     
       3. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the peripheral seal is heat sealed and the second and fourth seal portions are effected by one or a combination of heat sealing or welding or adhesive. 
     
     
       4. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first film and said second film are made from food-grade plastics materials and are secured to each other about said periphery by one of, or a combination of, heat sealing or welding or adhesive or folds. 
     
     
       5. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second film is flexible. 
     
     
       6. The pack as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the second film is less flexible than the first film. 
     
     
       7. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second films are constituted by a single folded film, the fold constituting part of said periphery. 
     
     
       8. The pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more additional connections are provided between the first and second films, said one or more additional connections being stronger than the joint between the films in the region of the first openable portion and weaker than the connection on either side of the first openable portion. 
     
     
       9. The pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the squeezable product is a friable product, wherein the friable product is crushable at least in part to form said particulate material. 
     
     
       10. A pack comprising a sealed package containing a squeezable product, the package having a first openable portion and being at least partially flexible to enable squeezing of the product to facilitate dispensing of a liquid or particulate material emanating from the product via the first openable portion once opened, wherein the package comprises one or more films which are fluid-tight and which fully enclose a volume in which the product is sealingly retained, wherein said one or more films comprises a flexible first film and a second film, which films are sealingly joined to each other about a periphery thereby forming a peripheral seal fully enclosing said volume in which the product is sealingly retained, wherein the first openable portion comprises at least one of the films having a grippable tab which can be manipulated to peel apart the joint between the films, wherein the first openable portion comprises a first seal portion comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first seal portion is relatively weak compared to a first second seal portion on the first side of the first seal portion and a second second seal portion on the second side of the first seal portion, whereby the second seal portions resist separation thereby to limit the first openable portion to a first predetermined size;
 wherein the package has a second openable portion at a position spaced from the first openable portion, the second openable portion comprising at least one of the films having a further grippable tab which can be manipulated to peel apart the joint between the films; 
 wherein the second openable portion comprises a third seal portion comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the third seal portion is relatively weak compared to a first fourth seal portion on the first side of the third seal portion and a second fourth seal portion on the second side of the third seal portion, whereby the fourth seal portions resist separation thereby to limit the second openable portion to a second predetermined size; 
 wherein the second predetermined size is greater than said first predetermined size such that the first predetermined size beyond which the films are resisted from separation prevents passage of the squeezable product through the first openable portion and wherein the second predetermined size by which the films are permitted to separate permits the passage of the squeezable product through the second openable portion; 
 wherein the first and third seal portions are part of the peripheral seal between the two films to enclose said volume and the second and fourth seal portions are in the form of additional joints between the two films; and 
 wherein the first second seal portion is contiguous with the first fourth seal portion, and the second second seal portion is contiguous with the second fourth seal portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the second and fourth seal portions are spaced from said peripheral seal. 
     
     
       12. The pack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first openable portion is opposite the second openable portion. 
     
     
       13. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the peripheral seal is heat sealed and the second and fourth seal portions are effected by one or a combination of heat sealing or welding or adhesive. 
     
     
       14. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said first film and said second film are made from food-grade plastics materials and are secured to each other about said periphery by one of, or a combination of, heat sealing or welding or adhesive or folds. 
     
     
       15. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the second film is flexible. 
     
     
       16. The pack as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the second film is less flexible than the first film. 
     
     
       17. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the first and second films are constituted by a single folded film, the fold constituting part of said periphery. 
     
     
       18. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein one or more additional connections are provided between the first and second films, said one or more additional connections being stronger than the joint between the films in the region of the first openable portion and weaker than the connection on either side of the first openable portion. 
     
     
       19. The pack as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the squeezable product is a friable product, wherein the friable product is crushable at least in part to form said particulate material.